The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is pursuing a suite of initiatives to strengthen federal energy management through increased focus on measurement of energy use in federal buildings and energy efficient building design. Principal among the efforts is DOE’s issuance of a final rule that requires verified energy and water performance.

ASHRAE, the International Code Council (ICC), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES), and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) agreed to collaborate on the development of Standard 189.1, the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), and the LEED green building program.

The General Services Administration (GSA) has announced that it will use “Green Button” technology to save energy and cut costs across the federal government. The agency launched its energy-saving initiative following a December 2013 presidential memorandum.

ASHRAE, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and the International Code Council (ICC) have agreed to jointly develop the 2015 edition of the ICC/ASHRAE 700 National Green Building Standard. This is the third edition of the standard and the first time that ASHRAE has partnered in its development.

Representatives from across the building industry, including code officials, building owners, manufacturers, designers, and energy efficiency advocates, have come together under the leadership of the National Institute of Building Sciences to develop a new approach to meeting green construction code requirements.

Ninety-four percent of green homeowners responded that they would recommend a green home to a friend, according to a national survey of homeowners who purchased a National Green Building Standard (NGBS)-certified green home built within the past three years.